Lewis Orford

Orford introduced himself to first team football with a defensive display that out worked everyone else on the pitch, winning possession back repeatedly in a way that caught the attention of fans and coaches. That grit suggests a midfielder built around winning possession rather than pure creation, a player who wants to disrupt a rival's rhythm before he considers his own attack. He looked settled on a big day in front of a large crowd, which is not something every young player manages first time out.

The tension is whether that early energy grows into a rounded midfield game once rivals adjust and target him. A midfielder known first for tackling needs to build his passing fast, or he risks staying a squad option rather than a true first choice. How his manager uses him as the season toughens will say plenty about how highly the club rates him.